Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1887-10-19

nlttee, He says =
"Yours of the 9th inst, was duly re-
aeiyed. think l can certainly be with
YOU on the Gath inst, the day of your Octo-
Der Court. You may announce me to
speak at that time"
The Great Interest Squarely Considered.
The continued production of wheat in
India has called forth many theories and
often differing in their conclusions. One
fact may assuredly be conceded, that the
immense capital invested there through the
fundamentally of the British Government
for the improvement of transportation from
the interior to the seaboard is in the
interest of increased production of wheat,
and that policy will not be abandoned. In
order to save this capital from loss in the
investments, it is fact that the producers
are required to pay transportation charges
equal to such demand and from which
they must save themselves through cheap
labor and the rudest methods of culture
and farm economy. The power Of capita
is supplemented by governmental policy
and systems of finance to force increased
production at the cost of the producer for
another purpose than that of securing Salts
factory demands upon investment in trans
portation lines-to secure the delivery of
wheat in the British markets at a price
which will exclude, as far as it is possible
to do so, American competition. This
policy cuts two ways-it has had depress-
ing effect upon the wheat-producing inter-
ests of England and Scotland where there
are generally from twenty-five to forty mil
lion bushels of wheat for sale, because the
standard of valuation has been lowered to
assist these objects in which they have no
interest except to antagonize them. From
it they have no remedy except in some kind
of revolt which. would make them the allies
of our country in this matter, and for that
they have not sufficient strength, even if
they possessed the inclination, though they
bitterly complain of their government and
the money-power fostered by it to their
damage.
A certain amount of American wheat is
necessary to mix with the Indian to make
good flour, and independence from any
tribute to our country except that compare
lively small amount is the struggle now
going on. The remedy for the American
producer is in enlarging our commerce, for
that invariably diminishes the use of the
various substitutes for good bread and in
creases the demand of millions for it, who
are just beginning TO learn that better food
is blessing to which they are entitled
Under the grinding exactions against which
the laboler in the Indian wheat fields is
now lifting feeble voice he is forced to live
upon rice as a substitute for wheat-bread
and though he produces the food supply,
he is denied its Strengthening and whole
some life-giving power.
Whilst some of the theories to which
reference has been made maintain that IN
dia cannot progress after the production
has reached minimum influence from
which it will ultimately be dislodged by the
American superior grades, there are Others
Just the reverse. A statistican and reviewer
of this matter which we must squarely face
furnishes the following as his views of India
as wheat-producer. 1t is taken from a
late report of our Consnlar-G General, Bon.
ham, resident at Calcutta, British India
His review is for the fiscal year ended Isl
March. 1886, from which a compilation is
made
The area devoted to wheat was about
27,5OO,000 acres and the total yield 2s9, 000,.
600 bushels. AS compared with the whea'
of the Pacific coast the Indian wheat is in
ferior, but when exported to Europe it is
mixed and ground with wheat of a superior
quality, by which process fair marketable
grade of flour is obtained. The method o.
cultivating the soil is in the main the same
as it was centuries ago, and there seems tt
be great difficulty in inducing the farmer tC
invest in modern agricultural implements
and yet with all the simple and primitive
methods the Indian farmers can, in the
opinion Of the Consul General, successfully
compete with those of the United States il
the production of wheat This is due tc
tue fact that the Indian farmers outfit
represents capital of not more than $40
or $50, and his hired help, works. feeds and
clothes himself on about So so month.
table is annexed showing that the export Of
wheat from British India has increased
from 500, 900 cwt. in 1868 to 81 900, 900 cwt
in 1886, and that the increase Of 1886 ovel
1885 amounts to about 100000 cwt. The
Consul-General says that some of his pred
ecessors have claimed that the United
States has nothing to fear from India as 6
competitor in the production Of wheat. II
this view he does not concur, and believes
that to-day India is second only to the
United States in wheat growing. Further.
more, wheat-growing in India is yet in its
infancy and its further development depends
principally upon the means of transporta-
lion to the seaboard He fears that with
the cheap native labor of India and the con-
stantly growing facilities for transportation
the United States will find her a formidable
competitor as a producer of the staff of life.
---<-\-
Tos Much Speaking.
la the meeting that nominated Messrs.
Dunlap and Craig az the Republican can.
didates for the HouDe of Delegates, Mr..
Jacob Yost stated that they were not
speakers and he hoped to God that they
would not speak anywhere in the county,
SIS there chad been too much speaking,
and the speeches made in that meeting il
Illustrated in the most foreible manner that
there chad been too much speaking for
the good of their party-by the Republi-
cans. Unless The Republicans can succeed
better than on that occasion in opening
their mouths without quitting their foot